Synopsis

Sketches new and old complete by Mark Twain - The Original Classic Edition

Finally available, a high quality book of the original classic edition.

This is a new and freshly published edition of this culturally important work, which is now, at last, again available to you.

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He said he would rather have died than interrupt me, but when he was employed to do a job, and that job was expected to be done in a clean, workmanlike manner, and when it was finished and fatigue urged him to seek the rest and recreation he stood so much in need of, and he was about to do it, but looked up and saw at a glance that all the calculations had been a little out, and if a thunder-storm were to come up, and that house, which he felt a personal interest in, stood there with nothing on earth to protect it but sixteen lightning-rods-Let us have peace!

...Hm, Reverend Le-well, there was a feller here, once by the name of Jim Smiley, in the winter of 49-or maybe it was the spring of 50-I dont recollect exactly, somehow, though what makes me think it was one or the other is because I remember the big flume warnt finished when he first come to the camp; but anyway, he was the curiousest man about always betting on anything that turned up you ever see, if he could get anybody to bet on the other side; and if he couldnt hed change sides.

...Parson Walkers wife laid very sick once, for a good while, and it seemed as if they warnt going to save her; but one morning he come in, and Smiley up and asked him how she was, and he said she was considerable better-thank the Lord for his infnite mercy-and coming on so smart that with the blessing of Provdence shed get well yet; and Smiley, before he thought, says, Well, Ill resk two-and-a-half she dont anyway.

...And a dog might tackle him and bully-rag him, and bite him, and throw him over his shoulder two or three times, and Andrew Jackson-which was the name of the pup-Andrew Jackson would never let on but what he was satisfied, and hadnt expected nothing else-and the bets being doubled and doubled on the other side all the time, till the money was all up; and then all of a sudden he would grab that other dog jest by the jint of his hind leg and freeze to it-not chaw, you understand, but only just grip and hang on till they throwed up the sponge, if it was a year. Smiley always come out winner on that pup, till he harnessed a dog once that didnt have no hind legs, because theyd been sawed off in a circular saw, and when the thing had gone along far enough, and the money was all up, and he come to make a snatch for his pet holt, he see in a minute how hed been imposed on, and how the other dog had him in the door, so to speak, and he peared surprised, and then he looked sorter discouraged-like and didnt try no more to win the fight, and so he got shucked out bad.